Saturday, August 1, 2009

Review & Giveaway: Carolina Pad

Does sunshine come in a box? I think in my case it did, because when I opened my box of school and office supplies from Carolina Pad I was greeted with a bright dash of yellow and I actually squealed with delight!

Have I got a great company to tell you about today and just in time for getting ready for school. Send your kids back to the classroom with the hippest school supplies around! Check out all the goodies I got in the next two pictures.
The collection my 13 pocket folder is from is called Simply Chic and it shows in an instant that these are not you run of the mill utilitarian office supplies. These are hip, fashionable, and functional with all sorts of thoughtful details ! For instance, the elastic cord enclosure on my pocket folder is yellow and matches the shiny button it loops around, combining to give it an extra punch of color. The coordinating 12 decorative file folders have a high gloss finish and pattern on the outside and have colorful and fun polka dot pattern inside.
Carolina Pad's designs are vibrant and they look elegant on my desk and dress up my admittedly cluttered desk. There's a collection to fit anyone's design aesthetic and are perfect for a sophisticated scholar or for keeping track of projects, lists, and the endless handouts your kids bring home from school. What I really like is that many of their collections are complete with everything you need to have a coordinated look, including in some cases writing implements, index card holders, and laptop totes. I wish I'd been able to carry Carolina Pad around the halls in junior and senior high school and especially on campus in college!
Besides the Simply Chic line, I received products from a number of other ones too. My Whimsical Flower Ideal Pad featuring the big red flower design actually makes me feel more productive, and it gives me a little smile every time I look at it. Not only is the design pretty look at it's very functional, with a little plastic pocket in the front and plastic dividers so I can organize my thoughts and projects. The pages are perforated so when I'm done with a task I can tear it out cleanly and move on the the next.

I also got composition notebook, with the pink flower pattern shown to above to the left, which I love! I've been using regular run of the mill ones with the classic black cover but as you know I must cuten everything up. So I've been decoupaging on scrapbook paper to get the look I want, a time consuming step I won't have to take with Carolina Pad's products. Cause who'd want to cover up such a pretty and ultra fem notebook like this? It's as if I picked out the cover design myself.
That's what I love about Carolina Pad, if your not into flowery designs, check out their Hot Chocolate line. Still very feminine with bright colors but more graphic and funky. I got the Hot Chocolate Personal Notebook, which is smaller than the Ideal Notebook but still loaded with features. There is a pocket inside the front cover and a handy elastic that closes it up and holds loose papers from getting loose. It would be a great place to jot a few things down that you need from the grocery store and store a couple of coupons. It's a good size for throwing your handbag or glove compartment.

Also from the Hot Chocolate line, are these great decorative Tab Dividers. Carolina Pad has taken what would seem to me, a very basic and utilitarian product and managed infuse with with some personality. You get four thick and glossy dividers each with a different pattern from the line on it. The back has lines on it for you to jot down notes. The last divider is a two sided pocket and a good way to add a little bit more organization to your binder without adding more bulk.Pattern Play is similar to Hot Chocolate in that it also uses bold graphic designs, but this time in a pastel color palette and more classic feel to it. I like the delicate feeling of the collection and it's soothing tones. I received a Pattern Play notebook and really like the thick and durable plastic cover with the diamond pattern printed right onto the plastic. I spilled a little juice on it while making breakfast and unlike paper covers, it wiped right off and the entire notebook wasn't ruined.
Chit Chat is a fun and trendy line that I think a lot of teenagers would really like. Covered in text messaging abbreviations, I am not hip enough to even know what half of them mean! I really liked how the text pattern is on the outside of the binder and striped pattern decorates the inside. My favorite feature was that the inside pockets are clear plastic so you can see your loose papers inside at a glance. Out of all the lines I got to preview, this is also the only one I think would be suitable for a male or female student. The last one I'd like to share with you, the Kendall Kollection, was inspired by a special little girl:

The notebooks and office supplies in this collection are not only eye-catching and beautiful, but they are also a small way for a designer and a company to give back to a little girl who was stricken with leukemia. We thought you would like to know Kendall’s story.

When Jacqueline Savage McFee (www.jackiemcfee.com), signature designer for Carolina Pad (www.carolinapad.com) – the industry leader in trendy school, office and organizational fashion products, got the devastating news that her two-year-old cousin, Kendall Sierens, was diagnosed with leukemia, it brought things into perspective for her. It also created a spark. The Kendall Kollection – a collection of colorful high-end school supplies inspired by the artist’s young cousin – was born in 2008 and has been raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The partnership between Jackie McFee, Carolina Pad and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society continues for 2009 with fresh new designs. This wildly successful collection is available at major national retailers including Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Office Max, as well as grocery and drug store chains.

Kendall is now almost six-years old and in remission, but the battle continues for thousands of other children just like her. We look forward to another year of helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its effort to find cures and better therapies for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Mothers and their daughters adore the look of the collection, but really love knowing that purchasing these products helps those in need.


To Purchase:
Find a retailer near you or make a purchase from their online store. Save 15% using the following coupon code: BTS2009 now through August 31st. All orders $30 and over ship for free! Send your kids to school with great supplies like the ones seen on CW's new "90210", ABC Family's "Greek", and in the arms of teen sensation Miley Cyrus and country superstar Carrie Underwood.

Giveaway:
How would you like to WIN the Kendall Collection? Would you like $35 worth of supplies to start the school year off or cuten up your office? You may actually WANT to do some work with this fun collection to use☺

To Enter:
Go over to Carolina Pad and look at all of their collections; leave me a comment on which one is your favorite.

Extra Entries: Leave an extra comment for each method!
Become a Carolina Pad fan on Facebook
  • Follow Carolina Pad on Twitter, @carolinapad
  • Visit their web site at http://www.carolinapad.com/ and sign up for their Consumer Insights Panel.
  • Tell me where you'd shop to pick up Carolina Pad's products.
  • Publicly follow my blog
  • Follow me on twitter @KTnestingspot
  • Tweet about this giveaway, once a day until the giveaway closes! Leave me a link to your tweet!
  • Good luck! Giveaway open until Thursday August 20th at midnight EST.

    102 Friends Said:

    Annette W. said...

    I like their Graphics in Nature and some of the Hot Chocolate products!

    Annette W. said...

    I am a follower!

    Annette W. said...

    I have a Hot Chocolate notebook that I got from WalMart.

    Julie said...

    i love the Whimsical Collection

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    Julie said...

    I am a follower of your blog

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    Julie said...

    I can buy Carolina products at the Meijers where I shop all the time
    here in Michigan

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    Nadia said...

    i love eye candy and kendal collection(cant choose between the two)

    Michelle said...

    I love the Kendal Collection!

    Michelle said...

    I am a follower of your blog :0)

    Michelle said...

    I signed up for the customer insight panel

    Michelle said...

    I would shop at CVS their products

    Michelle said...

    I am now a follower on Twitter

    Shooting Stars Mag said...

    I really love the Hot Chocolate collection. Very cute.

    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

    Shooting Stars Mag said...

    I actually got a notebook of theirs recently from Walgreens. So cute. I really like it.

    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

    Shooting Stars Mag said...

    i'm following.

    -lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

    Tam said...

    Hot Chocolate is definatley my favourite...wonder if it would help me get organised??

    Nicole Feliciano said...

    I'd love the hot chocolate file folders.

    Nicole Feliciano said...

    I follow on twitter.

    Sami Jo said...

    Of course I am simply chic! I love the combination of bold colors and patterns!!

    Sami Jo said...

    I'm a follower!!

    Clemencia said...

    My teenage daughter would absolutly love the Chit Chat collection :)

    Clemencia said...

    I signed up for their Consumer Insights Pane

    Clemencia said...

    I would buy it at Walmart

    Clemencia said...

    I am a follower of your blog :)

    Anonymous said...

    I love the hot chocolate collection!
    I saw some Chit chat stuff at meijer and walmart and bought a ton of binders notebooks and folders.

    I buy my carolina pad stuff at walmart and meijer!

    Tara said...

    I have lived in NC my entire life and have never heard of this company. Love their items. My favorite collections are the Whimsical Flower and Kendall Kollection (because they donate to the LLS)

    Tara said...

    I would buy their products at Target because I am a huge fan of Target and shop there most often.

    Tara said...

    I am following you on Twitter and...

    Tara said...

    I was following you publicly but my face wasn't showing so I've done it again and I'm following you here also.

    Tara said...

    I tweeted it

    heely22Need some fabulous back to school supplies? Check out this giveaway http://bit.ly/3HbAL at Katie's Nesting Spot

    Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

    Cute Whimsical collection and Kendall collection.

    mgbotelho21@gmail.com

    Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

    I follow you publicly.
    mgbotleho21@gmai.com

    kbloems27 said...

    I love the Eye Candy!

    kbloems27 said...

    I follow your blog!

    kbloems27 said...

    Meijers is where I can find them, and will be looking for them the next time I shop!!!

    ldemello said...

    i love the whimsical flowers collection. i would probably buy them from walmart.

    ldemello said...

    i hope that i can find the collection at walmart, office depot or longs.

    missstamper said...

    I love the Kendall collection and the story that goes with it.

    When I was six years old, my best friend died from Leukemia, she was only 7. Her name was Stephanie and her family lived next door to us and had since we were both babies. She was so special to me and I still think about her often.

    missstamper said...

    Just sign up for their Insight Panel. I should be GREAT at this, because I have an opinion about everything! LOL.

    missstamper said...

    Despite the best of intentions, my children did not give handmade teacher appreciation gifts last year. Instead their teacher's got the cutest gift baskets chock full of these great products, purchased at Target and Office Depot.

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    My favorite is actually the Hot Chocolate designs!

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    I'm following Carolina Pad on Twitter!

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    I'm a new blog follower!

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    I can pick up some Carolina Pad products at CVS, Walgreens, Target, Meijer, and the list goes on!!

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    I'm following you on Twitter!

    Ryan, Corrie, Max, and Jack said...

    Tweet! http://twitter.com/newwife777/status/3128735722

    TZel said...

    I love the new Graphic in Nature line! Thanks!

    Andrea said...

    I love the Prints Charming products. And what a cute name!

    andreapaetkau(at)gmail.com

    Joannof10 said...

    I love the hot chocolate line!

    Joannof10 said...

    I signed up for the product insight panel

    Joannof10 said...

    I follow the blog

    Natalie said...

    I really like their pens

    catss99 said...

    I like 'colours'

    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    catss99 said...

    I follow Carolina pad on twitter
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    catss99 said...

    signed up for the consumer insight panel

    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    catss99 said...

    I'd shop at CVS

    Amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    catss99 said...

    i publicly follow your blog
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    catss99 said...

    i follow you on twitter
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    Mama King said...

    Cute stuff! I love fun notebooks and pens. I really like the Eye Candy collection.

    Sherry said...

    I love whimsical flower collection

    Sherry said...

    I have gotten something from the Kendall collection at walmart, thats wher eI can buy them!

    Madonna said...

    My favorite is Eye Candy. I love the colors!

    Madonna said...

    I signed up for their consumer panel.

    Kelly, Carrie, Kylie and Zachary said...

    Carrie Ovard
    I like the Eye Candy Collection

    caovard@yahoo.com

    Kelly, Carrie, Kylie and Zachary said...

    Carrie Ovard
    I am a follower of your blog!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    caovard@yahoo.com

    Kelly, Carrie, Kylie and Zachary said...

    Carrie Ovard
    I have seen some of the collections at Walmart before. I think I even have some of it somewhere in this crazy house of mine.

    caovard@yahoo.com

    ShayLynn said...

    I love the Hot Chocolate collection but that folder in Yellow and Black was too cute as well! Great products!

    ShayLynn said...

    I follow your blog as well! Great Ideas! :)

    Unknown said...

    I really like the Whimsical Flower Idea Pad

    Annette W. said...

    I signed up for the consumer panel! I look forward to knowing what will happen with it.

    Stacey said...

    The Hot Chocolate collection is really cute!

    Anonymous said...

    My favourite is the Graphic in Nature Folders 2009.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    furygirl3132 said...

    I really love the Hot Chocolate, I just love the colors! Thanks so much for such a wonderful giveaway!

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    I am a fan of Carolina Pad on Facebook (Eloise Carlson)

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    Following Carolina Pad on Twitter (furygirl3132)

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    I signed up for the Consumer Insights Panel.

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    I would shop at Meijers here in Michigan for Carolina Pad products.

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    Following your blog (furygirl3132)

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    Following you on Twitter (furygirl3132)

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    furygirl3132 said...

    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/furygirl3132/status/3285500501

    Eloise
    furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

    Unknown said...

    Pattern play is my favorite

    Ms. Anita said...

    I love their Hot Chocolate Collection!
    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I follow Carolina Pad on Twitter. (My username is HSBSuzanne)

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I'm signed up for their Consumer Insights Panel.

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I publicly follow your blog.

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I'd probably shop at WalMart, Office Depot or Staples for their products.

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I follow you on Twitter. (My username is HSBSuzanne.)

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/13:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3292696908

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/14:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3317484895

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/15:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3338134275

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/16:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3349905972

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    ♥ Noelle ♥ said...

    i LOVE the hot chocolate line!! you know i am a BIG fan of brown! if i won, i'd get me some office/desk supplies! i am lacking in that area lately:(

    ♥ Noelle ♥ said...

    i do follow your blog:)

    ♥ Noelle ♥ said...

    i went to see where i could purchase these products at and was SO excited to see the Meijer close to my home sells them!! i will have to PAY MORE attention next time and pick some up!!

    (this is my comment of where I'd buy it from)

    also, the collection you are giving away is SUPER CUTE TOO!!

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/17:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3368434316

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/18:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3385262365

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Renee G said...

    Their pattern play collection is my favorite.

    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

    Karin said...

    I love Whimsical Flower~~


    karin56381 (at) gmail.com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/19:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3408229887

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Ms. Anita said...

    I tweeted for 8/20:

    http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/3440012355

    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

    Annette W. said...

    Bummer. I was really hoping to hear from you today! But I see you haven't posted the winner, so maybe it could still be me. :) I would love to get a stash of stationary!

    Kristi said...

    I just want to thank you for posting this review about Carolina Pad. It was very Helpful. As a mother of 3 girls, It was just what I was looking for. It's hard to pick a favorite they all are great! If I had to pick I would say Hot Chocolate and Eye Candy. The Quality and vivid colors are amazing and Inspiring. I will be shopping there years to come.

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